Osiris is one of the most important deities in Egyptian mythology, considered the god of fertility, vegetation and resurrection. Its name probably derives from the word “wasir” which means “seat of the eye”, in reference to its protective role towards the Sun and the pharaoh.
Osiris is often represented as a bearded man wearing a white crown with ostrich feathers and holding a scepter, called “hek”, as well as a whip, called “nekhakha”. Its symbolism refers to its function as a judge of souls in the afterlife, but also to its ability to regenerate nature thanks to the waters of the Nile.
His family
Osiris is the son of Geb, the god of the Earth, and of Nout, the goddess of the sky. He married his sister Isis, goddess of fertility, with whom he had a son, Horus. His brother Seth, jealous of his popularity, plotted against him to kill him by locking him in a coffin which he threw into the Nile.
His importance
In Egyptian beliefs, Osiris is considered the mythical pharaoh and the ideal model of royalty. He is revered as a beneficent god who brings fertility to the earth and eternal life to the souls of the dead. It is also associated with the mysteries of the resurrection and the hope of immortality.
The mythical tales of Osiris inspired many funeral ceremonies and rituals in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed that death was not the end of life, but rather a transition to an eternal existence in the afterlife, where souls were judged by Osiris.
In sum, Osiris is a mythical and central figure in Egyptian religion and culture, symbolizing fertility, regeneration and eternal life. His legend is immutable and continues to influence our collective imagination.
The myth of Osiris told
The gods, these supreme beings, held the secrets of life and death, and among them, Osiris, a verdant and generous divinity, sat enthroned as a benevolent sovereign.
The illustrious Osiris, brother of Seth, Nephthys and Isis, reigned over his people with wisdom, bringing forth abundance and balance, thus weaving the fabric of a flourishing kingdom. The goddess Isis, of a beauty as majestic as it is dazzling, was the wife of this king and the soul mate who knew how to satisfy this benevolent sovereign.
Almost everything was radiant. Jealousy crept into the heart of the treacherous Seth, brother and rival of Osiris. Driven by an unquenchable thirst for power, he hatches a cruel scheme to seize the throne. One day, during a sumptuous feast, Seth presented a magnificent chest, adorned with gold and precious stones, promising to offer it to whoever would fit perfectly into it. Many were those who tried their luck, but it was Osiris, duped by the ruse, who settled there.
Immediately, Seth closed the lid and sealed the chest, throwing it into the rushing waters of the Nile. Thus was consumed the fate of the noble Osiris, washed away by the waves, while Seth seized the throne, ushering in an era of chaos and desolation.
The beautiful Isis, her heart torn with grief, undertook a perilous journey to find the remains of her husband. Eventually, guided by the glow of a lone star, she discovered the sarcophagus, washed up on the distant shores of Byblos. Inside, alas, she found only the dismembered corpse of Osiris.
Undeterred, Isis gathered the scattered fragments of her beloved's body, wrapping them in her tears and her incantations. By the grace of her divine power, she gave life to Osiris, who resurrected for a brief moment, the time to conceive an heir: Horus, the celestial falcon.
Osiris, having tasted death, could no longer reign over the living. He therefore joined the kingdom of the dead, becoming the ruler and judge of the dead, watching over the balance between life and death.
As for Horus, he grows up under the protection of his mother. Isis. When he was old enough to fight, he challenged Seth to a titanic struggle to avenge his father and restore peace to the kingdom. The gods themselves witnessed this epic confrontation, which unleashed the elements and upset the established order.
After many fierce battles, Horus finally triumphed over the treacherous Seth, gouging out his eyes symbols of his evil power. He thus restores justice and prosperity to the Egyptian kingdom.
Osiris according to Plutarch
Plutarch, in his essay “Isis and Osiris”, approaches the myth of Osiris by seeking to interpret the symbolic and philosophical meaning of this story for the ancient Egyptians. He attempts to reconcile Egyptian beliefs with Greek thought and to extract moral and spiritual lessons from them.
According to Plutarch, the Osiris narrative represents the forces of good, order and fertility, embodied by Osiris and Isis, which are in conflict with the forces of evil, chaos and sterility, represented by Seth. This eternal struggle between opposites is a universal theme found in many mythologies and religions.
The Osiris myth also symbolizes the cycle of death and rebirth. The resurrection of Osiris and the birth of Horus are metaphors for the rebirth of vegetation and the annual cycle of the flooding of the Nile, which brings fertility to the Egyptian land. The tale also serves as an example of perseverance and piety, exemplified by Isis' efforts to find and reassemble her husband's body.
For Plutarch, the myth of Osiris also illustrates Greek philosophical concepts, such as the soul (represented by Osiris) and the body (represented by the body parts of Osiris). The division of Osiris' body into fourteen pieces symbolizes the fragmentation of the soul in the material world. The reunification of the body and the resurrection of Osiris represent the reconciliation of the soul with its divine nature and the transcendence of the material world.
In sum, Plutarch's approach to the myth of Osiris is that of a Greek philosopher and historian who seeks to understand and explain Egyptian religion in terms of concepts familiar to Greek thought. It emphasizes the symbolic and allegorical aspects of the narrative, linking it to universal themes and moral and spiritual lessons.
Osiris and the royal tombs
Representations of Osiris play an important role in the funerary art and inscriptions of the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. As god of the dead and judge of souls, Osiris was closely associated with beliefs and rituals regarding the afterlife and the afterlife in ancient Egypt. The royal tombs, especially those located in the Valley of the Kings, testify to this connection with the god Osiris.
In these tombs, Osiris is often represented in a humanoid form, arms crossed on the chest and holding the royal attributes, namely the heqa scepter and the flagellum, symbols of his power and his authority. He usually wears a long, braided beard and an atef headdress, consisting of a white ostrich-feathered crown surmounted by two ram's horns.
Funerary scenes depicting Osiris often depict the deceased pharaoh interacting with the god, such as presenting him with offerings or receiving his blessing. These interactions were believed to ensure the pharaoh's safe passage to the afterlife and guarantee his eternal rebirth. Funerary texts, such as the Book of the Dead, usually accompany these representations, providing magic formulas and prayers intended to help the deceased on their journey to the afterlife.
Here is a list of some royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings where representations of Osiris are present:
Tomb of Thutmose III (KV34): This pharaoh of the XVIIIe dynasty has a tomb decorated with scenes from the Book of the Dead and the Book of Amduat, where Osiris appears as god of the dead and judge of souls.
Tomb of Horemheb (KV57): Horemheb, last pharaoh of the XVIIIe dynasty, has a tomb with depictions of Osiris and other Egyptian deities.
Tomb of Ramesses III (KV11): The tomb of this pharaoh of the XXe dynasty is decorated with scenes depicting Osiris and other Egyptian gods, as well as funerary texts such as the Book of Gates.
Tomb of RAmses VI (KV9): In the tomb of Ramses VI, there are representations of Osiris in scenes from the Book of Gates and the Book of Hidden Lands, among other funerary texts.
Tomb of Ramesses IX (KV6): The tomb of Ramesses IX features depictions of Osiris in scenes from the Book of Gates and the Book of the Earth.
Tomb of Seti I (KV17): The tomb of this pharaoh of the XIXhe dynasty is richly decorated and contains representations of Osiris in scenes from the Book of Gates, the Book of Caves and the Book of Amduat.
Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62): The famous tomb of Tutankhamun contains representations of Osiris and other Egyptian deities on several funerary objects, such as the gilded wooden throne, the canopic chest and the walls of the burial chamber.
His story in pictures
Egyptian deities other than Osiris